Trot Moore Steel Guitars

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 20 Jan 2002 7:43 pm

Any of you Forumite Historians out there know anything about Trot Moore Steel Guitars?
Who made them? When? Where located? Were these pedal or lap steels? Own pickups or someone else's manufacture?

Just curious....... Oh, WHOM do we know that might have played one?

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 20 Jan 2002 8:13 pm

the trotmores were the work of Ira Trotter with Jerry Byrd being involved someway. The were fixed str steels. Some wee good some were bad. They were made in the Columbus Ohio area. Red Moser once told me that Jerry gave the money back to the people who did not like them. I had a 2ndx hand one and it had great tone. Like an idiot I let it go.I believe these were made in the 50s possibly late 40s. Ira used to play his his 51-52 at a club just off of Broad and High. I used to catch him once a week while I was stationed at Ft Hayes in Columbus. CC

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 20 Jan 2002 9:56 pm

ccjohnson....nice of you to respond. Any idea what one of these might be worth these days.....if it were found to be in good condition? How many did he make?

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 20 Jan 2002 11:58 pm

Ray, your not going to belive this but I just bought one from Howard White Nashville Hank Snow player of the 50's, that he got from Jerry Byrd. A seven string. I'll send you a picture and yes, it is for sale , and pretty inexpensive too! I have a picture of Jerry playing it!
Bobbe[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 20 January 2002 at 11:59 PM.]

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 21 Jan 2002 11:18 am

BBBBBBBobbee!

Well my flying buddy and good friend, do tell me more about that geetar you just posted....the Trot More or less....or whatever?
Would you have a certificate that JB had actually held it, touched it, played it PLUS an unretouched photo of same actually playing it or whatever?
How much do you want for it? Send me a pix.....maybe? You might just have a buyer.
No promises, understand, but it is a possibility. Thanx and will await your rapid response.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 21 Jan 2002 1:40 pm

All I know about this history is what Howard White is saying and the picture he gave me with it. To be honest,I know nothing about this brand of guitar and was shocked when I saw your post. Seems like a nice guitar though. Do you know Howard? He is a pretty well known yesteryear steel player and is still in touch with Jerry Byrd, weekly.
I'll be glad to let you have it if you wish, let me know .
R.K.S.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 21 Jan 2002 1:42 pm

Give me your address Ray, I'll send you the pictures.

R.S.

Tele · Post by **Tele** » 22 Jan 2002 1:12 am

Ray, there's an article about these steels in "Steel Guitarist" #3 from 1979. It stated that only 3 are believed to be built.

Andy[This message was edited by Tele on 22 January 2002 at 02:09 AM.]

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 22 Jan 2002 3:40 pm

Thanx ever so much Tele! Much appreciated.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 22 Jan 2002 3:58 pm

I'd like to know more myself but I will keep the price the same for you Ray. Your pictures are coming. I love the shape of this guitar.
Robert

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 22 Jan 2002 5:55 pm

Okay Bobbe! Glad you're holding that price inexpensive for me..... Can't wait to see the pix you've sent to me. Sure wish I could come searching for your fine new shoppe, like all the other big boys have done thus far.

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 24 Jan 2002 6:08 am

There was a Trotmore double eight for sale at the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association's annual Joliet, IL convention last October.

If I'm not mistaken I remember a $2000 price tag on it. No takers. It was in excellent condition.

It had a very 'martial arts weapon' look about it. Lot's of metal. It would be hard to convince the baggage checkers at the airport that it was a musical instrument.

------------------
Gerald Ross

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 24 January 2002 at 06:09 AM.]

Ricky Littleton · Post by **Ricky Littleton** » 24 Jan 2002 7:28 am

By the way, Howard White's book EVERY HIGHWAY OUT OF NASHVILLE was a pretty entertaining piece of work!

------------------
Emmons LeGrande - 8x4
Session 400 Ltd
Alesis Microverb
Dan-Echo, E-Bow

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 29 Jan 2002 11:51 am

Small world, isn't it. Just last evening I received from another thoughtful and kind Forumite.....a photo of the double neck Trotmore steel guitar. For years I had nothing to look at except one 8 x 10 of JB holding his Trotmore. After bringing it up here on the Forum, I have photo's and major contributions to the history of the instrument. Did Howard White, (Hank Snow)
also play one at one time?

Stan Steinberg · Post by **Stan Steinberg** » 15 Feb 2002 12:57 pm

More info on the Trotmore. I bought a Trotmore in 1954 on the advice of Jerry Byrd. While waiting for the guitar to be shipped, I received a letter from Mr. J. I. (Ira) Trotter Jr., manager at the Hearns Jewelry Co. in Nashville, Tenn. telling me of the exact date of delivery....Dec 1954. The "more" part of the name Trotmore comes from Ira's partner Grady Moore..who helped Ira design and build these instruments....sadly both gentlemen are now deceased. Mr Trotter wrote that he was giving me an upgraded pickup..which indicates that other guitars preceeded mine. Jerry played my guitar and said it was well made and had excellent sustain and tone. I'm aware of three other metal guitars and several wooden based guitars. Two metal ones were featured in Tom Bradshaw's Steel Guitarist magazine issue 3,page 24 and issue 5, page 11. These were owned at the time by Mr. Charles Miller of Covington, Kentucky and Mr. Bill Joerger of Dumfries, Virginia. Charles had the single neck and Bill had the double neck...Jerry and I each had single neck guitars. It is my understanding that Jerry sold his....Trotter could make these guitars with 6,7, or 8 strings. The metal ones are made of magnesium. I have a 7 string guitar tuned to A6. I hope this info is of some value. For what it's worth, I'll be at the TSGA in March close by Ralph Mooney and Fred Jack. I'll be glad to talk some more.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 15 Feb 2002 2:04 pm

THANKS Stan for the historical update!

That's about as complete a story as I've ever heard and very much appreciated.

One of the Wooden models is for sale there in Nashville.

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 15 Feb 2002 4:14 pm

Stan...Great to see you up and running..eerrr, I mean posting. I tried to e-mail you after we talked the other day but didn't get through... I'll try again. Sure looking forward to Dallas. Ray M...you gonna make Dallas.. maybe Stan could bring his Trotmore????? regards, fred

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 15 Feb 2002 8:32 pm

Good Lord, Wow! what a treasuretrove of information! I have one that is solid Cocobolo (spelling?) The quality and sustain are incredible. I'm finding that the information I'm obtaining on this guitr is more fun than the playing of it. Mr. Howard White (of the Hank Snow band)had been trying to sell it to me for years and I kept saying no, I don't want it, I've never heard of a "Trotmore"! Now I look at the rich history of this beautiful guitar and am very glad I have it. Billy Robinson and a lot of the Nashville players of yesteryear have told me a lot of history on this guitar also. Goes to show ya,---ya'can't know everything!( I can't either)
Thanks guys, This is why I love this wonderful forum!!!

Bobbe

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 15 Feb 2002 8:35 pm

I will be posting pictures of it on the web-page next week.
(if I can get Brandy to hold it!)

www.steelguitar.net

Jeff Watson · Post by **Jeff Watson** » 15 Feb 2002 9:37 pm

Ray Knapp of Maui has one of the magnesium 7 strings. I believe this guitar came to Ray from Jerry Byrd, it does have an inscription on the back from Jerry to Ray. Ray played it for years aboard the cruise ships in Hawaii and at the Old Lahaina Luau on Maui.

Paul Warnik · Post by **Paul Warnik** » 16 Feb 2002 10:57 am

Gerald R-I remember that one at the IHSGA show also-as I recall though the seller had a price tag of $2500 and one of the necks was a seven stringer not eight-it looked to me like the legs were added later-I seem to recall seeing one at Scotty's some years back too

Al Udeen · Post by **Al Udeen** » 16 Feb 2002 2:22 pm

Trot More? I once bet on a horse by that name! Sorry! & so was I.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 17 Feb 2002 11:06 am

Wish I'd have said that!

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 17 Feb 2002 3:30 pm

Al ... did you see the horsie twat ??? fred

Al Udeen · Post by **Al Udeen** » 17 Feb 2002 9:09 pm

No! but I saw the horses a$$ that was riding him!